Chris Christie, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, headed out to the Panhandle to help Scott on Friday. Thats not exactly the most natural of turfs for the New Jersey governor who would be a better fit in South Florida with its various snowbirds and retirees from the Northeast.
This was not Christies first trip to help Scott out and, if he runs in 2016, hell need to do well in the Florida primary which traditionally is held after Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. With Christie still damaged after Bridgegate and too liberal on social issues for many Republicans, Florida is shaping up to be crucial for his presidential ambitions.
Christie was not the only governor willing to help Scott out this week. The RPOF will hold an event in Orlando this weekend featuring Bobby Jindal. Unlike Christie, who has dropped from the top tier to the second one, Jindal has remained in the back of the 2016 pack despite being a favorite of conservatives.
Jindal was once one of the GOPs rising stars across the country. But he never recovered when he offered the response to Barack Obamas state of the union address and in-fighting with fellow Louisiana Republicans. Still only 43 -- easy to forget since he was named as an assistant secretary of HHS under George W. Bush back in 2001 and was elected to Congress in 2004 and governor of Louisiana in 2007 -- Jindal has shown signs of bouncing back and he remains popular in his home state.
Florida actually is not a bad fit for Jindal since he can appeal to both economic and social conservatives. Jindals experience with Gulf issues should also help ensure Panhandle Republicans look him over for 2016, especially if the likes of Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio decide to stay out of the contest.
Of course, Democrats looking at presidential bids have also come down to Florida to help out Charlie Crist. Hillary Clinton has stayed out of the mix so far but her husband campaigned alongside Crist earlier this month and its expected she will head to Florida next month.
Other Democrats looking at running in 2016 are trying to take advantage of Hillary Clintons absence in the meantime. Deval Patrick campaigned alongside Crist earlier this week. While hes left the door open to a presidential run, Patrick isnt exactly a top tier candidate but, if he runs, he should at least get a boost in neighboring New Hampshire. If he wants to keep that momentum alive, hell need to do well in Florida. One big problem for Patrick is Elizabeth Warren, a fellow Massachusetts Democrat who is much better known across the nation and is a favorite of liberals. Warren has also received some attention as a 2016 hopeful, especially if Hillary Clinton stays out.
Martin OMalley is expected to enter the 2016 fray regardless of what Hillary Clinton does. The liberal Maryland governor is scheduled to hit Florida later this month and campaign alongside Crist. Its hard to see a path to the White House for OMalley but he could emerge as a favorite of the left, hoping to follow the same path Obama did against Hillary Clinton back in 2008. Regardless, by helping Crist, OMalley raises his profile in all-important Florida.
With control of the largest swing state on the electoral map at stake, Scott versus Crist is shaping up as one of the most important races across the nation come November. Expect more Democrats and Republicans to head to Florida in October as they look to pursue their White House dreams.
Tallahassee-based political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis exclusively for Sunshine State News.
